Need a mortgage but worried about the market? In Mortgages For Dummies, 3rd Edition, bestselling authors Eric Tyson and Ray Brown give you proven solutions for obtaining a mortgage, whether you want to buy your first home, refinance, or tap into your equity. You get the latest on sub-prime and adjustable-rate mortgages, finding the best lender, avoiding fiscal pitfalls and foreclosure, and much, much, more! This easy-to-understand, objective, and jargon-free guide helps you fine-tune your finances, figure out what you can afford, and improve your credit score before you go mortgage shopping. You’ll get familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages, 15- and 30-year loans, and conforming and jumbo packages. You also get help finding and working with reputable professionals, comparing programs, and securing terms you can live with. Discover how to: Match your mortgage to your financial goals Qualify for a mortgage even when money is tight Find the right loan for you Choose the best lender/broker Negotiate the best terms Calculate your costs and payments Understand and complete all paperwork Refinance an existing mortgage Understand and consider special situation loans Explore reverse mortgages and other options Decipher amortization tables and comparison worksheets Use the Internet wisely when mortgage shopping Now, more than ever, you need clear, reliable information that helps you get the mortgage you need at a price you can afford. You need Mortgages For Dummies, 3rd Edition!

For seniors who live on a fixed income, owning a home—and keeping it—can be financially challenging. Rather than face the choice of selling your home and moving or becoming a home-owning pauper, reverse mortgage products let seniors convert part of their equity into tax-free income that can be used for anything—even mortgage payments, living expenses, or medical costs. Reverse Mortgages For Dummies covers all the basics of reverse mortgage products so you and your adult children can understand and take full advantage of these handy loans—and keep the home you love. Covering a full range of reverse mortgage options and topics, you’ll discover how to: Decide if a reverse mortgage is right for you Shop for the best reverse mortgage products Find out if your home is eligible Find a counselor who can help you Written by Sarah Lyons, an Assistant Editor at Mortgage Originator magazine, and John Lucas, an experienced reverse mortgage specialist, Reverse Mortgages For Dummies explains these helpful loan products in simple, easy-to-understand language free of all the jargon. Once you understand how reverse mortgages differ from other loans—and what you could do with your reverse mortgage—the book covers the specifics you need to find the right loan for you, including: Special advice for adult children helping their senior parents secure a loan How to get a reverse mortgage and keep your second home legally Property requirements and financing fees Selecting among a multitude of lenders Spending and estimating leftover equity Sharing the decision-making process with family and loved ones If you’re a senior wondering whether a reverse mortgage can help you keep your home, this book gives you the information you need to make smart, informed decisions that are vital to you, and your family’s, security. Reverse Mortgages For Dummies will help you keep your home and live the life you want.

Now updated — America's #1 bestselling home-buying book! Want to buy a house, but concerned about the market? Have no fear — this trusted guide arms you with Eric Tyson and Ray Brown's time-tested advice and updated strategies for buying a home in current market conditions. You'll discover how to find the right property, make smart financial decisions, and understand the latest lending requirements and tax implications. New to this edition — new and expanded coverage to help homebuyers take advantage of low home prices, understand the subprime mortgage crisis, obtain a mortgage, and improve credit scores To buy or not to buy? — weigh the advantages of owning versus renting, get your finances in order, and know how much house you can safely afford Handle financing — understand your credit rating, navigate the different types of mortgages, and complete all paperwork Play the real estate game — find the right location and property, assemble an all-star real estate team, and make the most of the Internet's real estate resources Let's make a deal — negotiate with finesse, make successful offers, inspect and protect your new home, and cover all your bases in escrow "Invaluable information, especially for the first-time home buyer." —Fort Worth Star-Telegram "A reference you'll turn to time after time." —St. Petersburg Times Open the book and find: Reasons why home prices rise and fall Hands-on instruction for buying a home in up or down markets How to pay the price you want The best mortgage options A sample home-buying contract Pros and cons of comparable market analysis Tips for overcoming mortgage and appraisal problems How to cope with buyer's remorse The best real estate Web sites

The crucial information you need to secure a reliable loan modification and save your home Behind on your mortgage payments? Worried about losing your home? Don't panic. Loan Modification For Dummies gives you the reliable, authoritative, easy-to-understand guidance you need to apply for and secure a loan modification that lowers your monthly house payment and keeps you in your home. This practical, plain-English guide leads you step by step through the loan modification process, from contacting your lender to applying for a loan modification, evaluating the lender's initial offer, and negotiating a modification that lowers your monthly payment while helping you catch up on any past-due amounts. You'll learn how to communicate with your bank or loan servicer, recognize and avoid loan-modification scams, and find a knowledgeable loan modification specialist, if you choose not to do it yourself. Advice on determining whether you're likely to qualify for your lender's loan modification program Guidance on preparing and submitting a loan modification application that improves your chances of success Helps you figure out a monthly payment you really can afford Tips on modifying your loan even when you owe more than your home's current market value Negotiation advice for securing the best possible terms and lowest monthly payment Resources for contacting your lender, obtaining free or affordable third-party assistance, and getting government agencies on your side Read Loan Modification For Dummies and start saving your home today.

Your turn-key guide to crucial information about buying a new home before you take the plunge Home Buying Kit For Dummies, 7th Edition simplifies and explains the home-buying process to new home buyers everywhere. Authors Eric Tyson, MBA and Ray Brown inform and educate readers in the simple, straightforward and incisive style the For Dummies series is known for across the world. This book covers all the topics necessary to tackle the purchase of a home with confidence, including: Complete coverage of new US tax rules and strategies What's happening with home financing given the high home prices and fluctuating economies found in many markets How to compare renting and buying in light of new rules regarding mortgage interest and property tax write-offs Updated coverage of internet resources and how to best utilize them as a buyer The 7th Edition of Home Buying Kit For Dummies offers brand new content of particular interest to millennial homebuyers, as well as freshly updated online companion content.

Quickly make sense of mortgages Taking out a mortgage to purchase real estate is a huge decision, one that could affect your family's finances for years to come. This easy-to-follow guide explains how to secure the best and lowest-cost mortgage for your unique situation. Whether you select a 15- or 30-year mortgage, you'll get all the tips and tricks you need to pay it off faster—shortening your payment schedule and saving your hard-earned cash. Fine-tune your finances Qualify for a mortgage Secure the best loan Find your best lender Refinance your mortgage Pay down your loan quicker Must-knows about foreclosure Top mortgage no-nos

"Buying a first home can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Will you qualify for a mortgage? Is your dream home achievable? How do you make sure your offer will beat others? Don't worry-now you can arm yourself with the information you need to know before you begin the hunt! In Home Buying 101, you will learn all the skills you need to find the right house at the right price, with financing that fits your budget. Full of nuts-and-bolts advice and organized in an easy-to-read format, this book will teach you all the basics of: deciding the right time to buy; getting your finances in order; deciphering the MLS/reading the listings for clues; types of mortgage loans; and much more! With the help of this guide, you'll learn how to find the house of your dreams at a price you can afford!"--

The authors develop an equilibrium valuation model that incorporates optimal default to show how mortgage yields and lender recovery rates on defaulted mortgages depend on initial loan-to-value (LTV) ratios. The analysis treats both the frictionless case and the case in which borrowers and lenders incur deadweight costs upon default. The model is calibrated using data on California mortgages. Given reasonable parameter values, the model does a surprisingly good job fitting the risk premium in the data for high LTV mortgages. Thus, from an ex ante perspective, the authors do not find strong evidence of systematic underpricing of default risk in the run-up to the housing market crisis. Charts and tables.

A practical guide that helps you thoroughly research properties, so you know what you’re getting into before you buy or bid on a property With the housing bubble of recent years bursting and interest rates on the rise, there has been an upsurge in the number of foreclosures across the country, creating many opportunities for profit. But investing in real estate foreclosures can be a tough job, especially when a negative stigma is attached. How do you make money while preserving your morals and trust? Foreclosure Investing For Dummies shows you how to invest in foreclosures ethically without being accused of stealing homes from “little old ladies.” When you approach the process in a fair-minded way, presenting homeowners with various options and offering a reasonable price for their home, you can walk away with your integrity intact—and potentially a reasonable profit, too. This step-by-step guide helps you research property, find the best opportunities, purchase foreclosures, and avoid misleading distressed homeowners. If you’re committed to success, dedicated to mutually beneficial solutions, can treat foreclosure investing as business, and you can talk to people, this book is for you, but it doesn’t promise quick profits through minimal work. This book will provide you with invaluable information to become a successful investor, including how to: Identify opportunities and understand risks Obtain information, tools, support, and resources Locate properties prior to foreclosure Assist homeowners through the foreclosure process Acquire properties below market value prior to the auction Buy property at an auction, from lending institutions, and government agencies Repair, renovate, and sell or lease property A hands-on guide with tips and strategies for refinancing your property and maximizing your profits, this book also provides advice on how to assist homeowners, have them work with you, and avoid common mistakes. It even contains an appendix that covers foreclosure rules and regulations. It’s time to go out and make the most of foreclosure investing, and with Foreclosure Investing For Dummies by your side, your hard work and devotion will bring tons of success!

Real Estate Investing For Dummies, 2nd Edition, is completely revised and updated to help you overcome the challenges and and take advantage of the opportunities in any real estate environment, including a down market. But Eric Tyson and Robert Griswold's core message remains as relevant today as it did upon the initial publication of Real Estate Investing For Dummies -- investing in real estate is time-tested vehicle to build wealth in the long term. Tyson and Griswold don't tell you how to become a millionaire overnight. Instead, they offer proven, practical, and actionable advice so that if you chose to invest in income-producing properties, you can do so wisely and confidently.